Vehicle frame



March 6, 1945. w c H ETAL 2,370,726 I VE'HICLE FRAME Filed March 13, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 6, 1945.

w. c. HESS ETAL VEHICLE FRAME Filed March'13, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .ll'llIl/ /llflllll/I g 1 ENTORS Patented Mar. 6, 1945 UNITED TES; 1 PATEN VEHICLE.

willard c. Hess, Wyoming, and Samuel Gl'ueoli,

Cincinnati Ohio Application March 13, 1942', Serial :No. 434,542 v 1 [7 cla ms] (ci.1:2so--2sn This 'invention'relates to improvements in ve 'hlcle frames, particularly as constituted, "for the main crzsupporting frame of a bicycle type of vehicle, etc enhance its riding qualities, lessen its liability to distortion, materially increasing its strength over prevailing constructions andmethads of manufacture, of extreme lightness in weight and of a composite or plural ply material" enaib'ling its fabrication mainlyircm materials other than metal, and" in which portions thereof may lac-reinforced or strengthenedby anincrease in-ply 'of-the same or different-kinds of material.

Anobjectoithe'invention-i'sto produce a vehicle frame, particularly'for a'bicycle type, of a laminated *or "composite structure embodying and th'e blo'ckout, configumieo to'obtain uniques 'ness in I design and contribute. to the" constructura-lqualitiesifor-utility 1 The weight-or gravity of 't'neiaminae. and their relative number for different; portions of the frame structure may be varied, depending nipon the physical structure'of the materialsiused and I upon an adhesiveeor bondingrmaterial to "achieve sheet material or sheets and an intermediate fll-lerma'ter-ial "and {sol-idly bonded together.

Another object is. to provide a vehicle frame having a web or core of'laminated or composite material -or a composite sheet or strips of; laminar material vertically disposed, with coped or'beaded edges or margins for reinforcement and torgive added dimension and definition thereto esthetically and to increase its durability. U

Another object is to produce a vehicle frame composed of'lamina'e of the same or difierent stability and of increased numbers varied for different portions-or sections of the unit for a proportional increase in frame strength, and to obtain improved riding qualities due to "the natural resiliency and laminae.

absorption qualities of. ,the

I Figure 1.

The drawings primarily exemplify a selected example of vehicle frame of the bicycle'type and commonly resignated safety style inwhich the major or 'bodyportion constitutes a web or series of websnormallydispo'sedin a vertical or perpendicular plane with relationto the-groundwith its forward end extended and mounting a ferrule or sleeve for connecting with and swiveling a stem of a wheel supporting fork for journaling the front ground wheel, the stem-having a steering handlefixed to its upper end. The upperbar of the frame, at itsirear end, sustains a seat and the lower bar journals a crank'forve'hicle propulsion .i'romwhich the frame bifurcates to divide into .a

pair of limbs, as laminar extensions of'the frame .for straddlinga rear ground wheel and to which lthe'wheel'is journaled, so that the general characteristics of a conventional tubular fabricated bicyclei'frame"saiety style are maintained.

The bar and limb portions of theframernay be blocked out'from a laminated sheet tojskeletonize the same and minimize its broadside area, making it less retarding to side wind pressures,

Figu'reL. Figure 6 is an enlarged-section on line. 6 --6,

'tion of the-frame.

ad'eflnitestructural characteristic. This may involve various'process'es or: methods of fabrication and likewise. applied to the selected form herein disclosed generic to' structure, so that :any process .or method of fabrication is separate :and distinct hereof.

In the-construction ofvarious portions brsections of the frame' different grades 'and kinds' of :Figure .5 is an-enlarged section on line S 5,

Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an enlarged and fullsize-section on Figure 8 is an enlarged section on line B 8, Figure 1, '0f one of the limbs of the .rear fork por- Figure 9 is an enlarged-section ongline 9-4,

Figure 10 is an Figure 1. w

The present invention being directed par-ticu-larly to the'structure of :a vehicle frame "of the enlarged section .on line .{I 0-',l 0,

bicycle (safety) type; thedrawirigs only depict the frame. While such parts as theguards,

. wheels and "front wheel journal' fork likewise lend themselves to laminated types of structu-res; disclosure thereof is omitted for} classifying purenlarged section on line' 2 -Z,

is an enlarged section; on line 4-4,

poses as separate "and distinct hereof. This also applies to the propelling mecnamsm and other details --employed in the m'ake up of the I vehicle and which may be of well known conventional construction.

The frame in general outline characteristically patterns in side elevation and ordinarily termed diamond shape, having an intermediate strut or saddle pillar, with the elements of the frame possessing a materially increased depth measurement over the ordinary metal tube frames.

In the build-up of the frame greater latitude is possible'in its lines and curves to give increase in strength and provide material alteration esthetically.

The styling is functional not only to enhance the appearance of the vehicle, but also to contribute to its constructional qualities.

Referring to the drawings, the body of the frame preferably comprises a top beam or bar I and a bottom or base beam 2 extending longitudinally of the frame, spaced and connected at their forward ends by a truss beam or bar 3 and at the rear ends by a strut or saddle pillar 4 from which the body bifurcates, to provide a pair of companion relatively spaced limbs 5-5 for straddling and journaling a rear wheel. The top beam, at its forward end, extends beyond its juncture with the truss beam 3 and has a sleeve or bushing 6 fixed or embedded therein for mounting and journaling a steering post as a part of a front wheel carrying fork, and its rear end is of a form slidably and adjustably mounting a seat or saddle.

The frame elements are of composite structure, varying relatively in detail of construction, although primarily each contains a central web or core I preferablycomposed of a plurality of composite sheets or strips of laminar material unitarily bonded together, and may also be defined as a composite unit of laminar material. The plural strip form, in composing the body of the frame of bar or beam-like elements, permits the Web to be easily fabricated from relatively different widths and lengths of strips for staggering the ends and edges, and therefore provide for connecting the beams in a mortise and .tenon fashion, securely joining and unitarily com bining the same, and to efliciently bind the edges.

It is recognized, however, that the frame may be formed as a unitary element from either a single or plurality of bonded sheets of ply board or laminar material cut out to a selected outline and centrally or intermediately blocked out to skeletonize the same and for some styles and/or classes of vehicles may be left in the solid, which is more or less a matter of design.

The beam or bar form of frame is used principally to conserve material and reduce waste, particularly for the pattern, design or style illustrated for the body portion of the frame. The rear wheel straddling limbs of the frame for the tail end thereof are more dominantly solid, providing a minor cut out portion to furnish an opening, particularlythrough one of the limbs for passage of the sprocket chain or propulsion means connecting with the rear wheel.

The laminae of the web may be of various grades and kinds of material, as a fibrous material conventionally employed in the manufacture of wood or paper ply boards or sheets, and in some instances the intermediate layer or layers are of a composition or filler material. The webs, therefore, are builtup of laminae of a different material and of different strength sections withthe number of layers varying at various points to give increased proportionate frame .strength. The weight or the gravity or the lamthe limbs.

inae may be varied, depending upon the physical construction of the materials employed and upon the adhesive or bonding material.

The method of fabrication of the laminar beams or frame, whether blanked out of flat sheets or prepared from pro-shaped forms involving different processing, of which detailed description is omitted, is regarded as separate from the improvement herein which is confined to the vehicle frame as an article of manufacture.

The laminar web of both the upper and lower beams respectively are preferably enclosed or covered with layers or strips 8-8 of wood or other material in a solid form adhesively bonded thereto, imbedding the web, the web thereby constituting a core for the beams or bars. The beams or bars, as for the base and truss beams 2, 3, further may be enclosed or covered by a pliable layer 9.

The upper beam 1 and the rear portion of the lower base beam 2, at the relative opposite sides thereof, each is provided with correspondingly formed sections or extensions of laminar material to form the pair of spaced limbs 55 to bifurcate and fork the frame rearwardly of the body for straddling and journaling the rear wheel of the vehicle with the outlines of the limbs tapering from the union with the body portion of the frame, and they may be said to be of V-shape longitudinally for the particular design disclosed thereby, with the body given an approximate diamond shaped outline configuration to the frame. The body and limbs at the bifurcation of the frame are further joined by the strut or saddle pillar 4.

The limbs, as shown in cross-section Figure 8, are representative of a composite or laminar construction preferably composed of a central laminar web or core section l0 joining at its opposite ends to strips ll-H of a solid material and facing layers l2-l2 recessed into the sides of the end strips for the opposite sides of the limbs, all bonded or integrated together into a laminar structure with the outer end of the end strips providing a heading for the edges of The limbs have an upper-longitudinal portion or extension parallel with the relative opposite side of the upper beam and form a part thereof, thereby materially strengthening the same,

The front truss beam 3, as illustrated in crosssection Figure 7, comprises a central laminar core or web 1, binding strips i 5 ancllfi of solid material respectively joining with the relative opposite ends of the web or core 7 in a mortise and tenon connection, and a pliable covering or facing layer 9 having its opposite ends stressed into the binding or beading strip 15.

The strut or saddle pillar v*l is of channel form in cross-section to bifurcate the rear end of the body of the frame, and as illustrated in Figure 2, comprises a central web or core l8 with a portion of the laminae thereof for the outer sides relatively diverging outwardly from one or the rear end to respectively merge and join with the limbs 55. The ends of the diverging portions, each respectively, is joined to a beading strip IQ of solid material and the web or core enclosed or covered by respective pliable layers 20, 2! having their relative opposite ends recessed in and bonded to the respective opposite sides of the beading strip [9.

The lower base beam 2 has a bushing 22 engaged through an aperture therein and suitably,

- proportionate strength.

rigidly fixed thereto for carrying an anti-friction bearing and crank shaft of the vehicle 'propulsion means, and correspondingly the limbs, each respectively, is provided with a bushing or other means for the journals of the rear wheel.

The upper beam l is elongated to extend between the diverging portion of the limbs and provides a supporting tongue 23 for slidably, adjustably mounting a seat or saddle thereon. This Q locates the seat at a point for greatest rider comfort and somewhat closer to the center of gravity than as heretofore located, giving a degree of more perfect balance and greater ease of control.

In the construction of the various sections different fillers may be used to fill up any interstices or abruptness to form a compact and smooth surface assembly and'thereby also contribute to the strength and shape of the element, and the composition of the filler may be varied to obtain The outer laminae can be surface finish coated or base coated, offering advantages otherwise not obtainable.

Having described the invention, we claim: 1. A composite frame for a bicycle and the like vehicle having a unitary web for the interior of the frame structure, the web consisting of a like vehicle having a unitary web for the interior of the frame structure, the webjconsisting of a top bar, abottom'bar and a pair of bars connecting the top and bottombars, the web comprising laminations of non-metallic material in,

solid bonded union with the laminations all in a similar plane and in a vertical plane for the frame and binding means of solid material covering the edges of the laminations and in mortise joint connection with the laminations as a unit.

3. A composite frame for a bicycle and the like vehicle having a unitary web'for the interior of the frame structure, the web consisting of a-topbar, a bottom bar and a pair of bars connecting the top and bottom bars, said bars each comprised of laminations of non-metallic material in solid bonded union, the laminations of the bars 3 united one with another in fabricated continuance and binding means of solid material covering the edges of the'laminations and in mortise joint connection with the laminations as a unit.

5 4. ,A composite frame for a bicycle and the like vehicle having a web of composite structure for the interior of the frame and consisting of a top bar, a bottom bar and a pair of bars connecting said top and bottom bars, the web constructed of laminations of non-metallic material extending in a similar plane and in solid bonded union and binding means of solid material covering the edges of the laminations and in mortise joint connection with the laminations as a unit.

5. A composite frame for a bicycle and the like vehicle having a web of composite structure for the interior of the frame and consisting of a top bar, a bottom bar and a pair of bars connecting said top and bottom bars, the Web constructed of laminations of non-metallic material extending in a similar plane and in solid bonded union, binding means of solid material covering the edges of the laminations, andin mortise joint connection with the web and a pair of spaced limbs providing a wheel journalling fork for one end of the'frame, the limbs each of composite structure extending respectively relatively from opposite sides of the web and from the top and bottombars thereof and forming a composite part of said bars.

6. A composite frame for a bicycle and the likevehicle, having a web of composite structure for the interior of the frame, fabricated of laminations of non-metallic material extending in a-similar plane and. in solid bonded union, the web comprising atop bar, a bottom bar and a pair of bars connecting said top and bottom bars, strips respectively extending longitudinally of like vehicle having a core composed of laminations in bonded union and extending in a vera tical plane of the frame, and binding means of solid material covering the edges of the laminations; extending longitudinally thereof, and the g laminations, as a unit, in tongue and groove con- 7; A composite frame for a bicycle and the 5 

